10 Design Tips for Making Small Spaces Appear Bigger

Making small spaces appear larger can be challenging when you don’t know where to start. After all, there are so many considerations to make, like choosing the right furniture, displaying beloved items, and adding flair to walls with big splashes of colour and textures.

Tricking the mind’s eye to think rooms are more extensive than they appear doesn’t mean giving up your specific style and taste for decor and comfort. There are a number of ways you can create space where it doesn’t naturally exist. All it takes is a little bit of effort and a creative attitude.

Ready to get started? Follow our tips below.

The end of a hallway showing open space with minimal decor.

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Embrace Minimalism

Resist the urge to position everything you own out in the open. In small spaces, clutter can quickly take up precious real estate that would otherwise help rooms appear lighter and more significant. Minimalism isn’t for everyone, but testing it out to see what sticks could help improve the appearance of your small space.

A woman organizes bath products in a small bin.

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Utilize Clever Storage Solutions

Storage in a small space is always a battle, but a little creativity can help you keep clutter out of sight and out of mind. Choose furniture designed with storage space under the cushions to hide away linens you aren’t using. Consider items like wire or straw baskets to keep loose items like magazines, books, remotes and more in controlled chaos.

A bright light bedroom with a large full-length mirror leaning against a wall.

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Make Use of Mirrors

Increase the amount of mirrors in your home and strategically place them throughout each room. Hanging a mirror opposite a window will help create the illusion of depth and space, while full-length mirrors leaning against walls, or tightly secured, create the illusion of height and space.

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Look for Legs

Your furniture can also increase the space available in a small room. Search for furniture with legs versus those that sit directly on the floor to create a sense of openness and movement. Furniture designs with legs also allow light and air to flow under and around it, producing the appearance of more space.

A person standing on a ladder with an apron on as they add painter's tape to a wall.

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Select Paint Colours Carefully

It can be tempting to paint an accent wall in a bold, dark colour, but that’s a fast way to make a room look smaller than it is. If adding splashes of colour is crucial, choose light, cool colours like soft tones of blue and green to help your space feel open and airy.

A long white hallway in a small apartment.

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Paint It White

Another way to open up a room is to lean into white walls and ceilings. White is naturally reflective, making it an obvious option to create an airy feel across rooms. Using the same shade of white from floor to ceiling can enhance a cloud-like effect, making ceilings appear higher and tricking the mind into thinking there is more space.

Black and white decorative wallpaper featured above a table and a brass lamp.

Unsplash/Julian Hochgesang

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Play With Patterns

It might feel counterintuitive, but patterns can also create space in your home. Too many patterns can cramp up a room; but when placed thoughtfully and in moderation, they can soften the perception of a room’s corners. Choose a small closet or bathroom as a test run to see if it makes sense for your place.

An open kitchen concept with wood furniture and a clear pathway.

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Clear a Path

Try to avoid placing decor and furniture in the middle of rooms. Instead, move items away from walks to make the room feel larger. Consider putting your taller, broader, plusher furniture against the ball and opt for armless open chairs and low coffee tables to fake extra space.

A bright living room with sheer white and pink drapes in a large window.

Pexels/Vecislavas Popa

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Light It Up

Ditch dark and heavy drapes and blinds and let the light in to breathe new life into a room. Keep your privacy in check with thin, light, breezy drapery, leaning primarily on sheer fabrics that allow light to seep through naturally.

A clear/glass coffee table displayed in a living room.

Unsplash/Lexie Barnhorn

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Invest in Glass and Lucite

Transparent materials can majorly impact any space, especially smaller rooms and homes. Glass and lucite are excellent options and can be easily sourced in the form of coffee, console and side tables that create a disappearing act when placed in a room.